Hamas freed two dozen hostages, Israel released 39 imprisoned Palestinians, and more than 130 aid trucks reached Gaza over the first day of a tense, temporary truce after seven weeks of war.
When the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip took effect early Friday, Palestinians across Gaza prepared to go back to the homes they fled to see if they were still intact; to check on relatives left behind; and in some cases, to finally bury their dead.
Hamas freed two dozen hostages held in the Gaza Strip and Israel released nearly 40 imprisoned Palestinians on Friday, completing the first exchange in a tense, temporary truce that halted the fighting after seven weeks of war.